The man who shot a Bethel police officer nearly 30 years ago died in a mental hospital last week, ending a long and fearful chapter in the victim’s life.

Kenneth Ruggles, 68, died Thursday evening at Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, where he had been a patient since being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the attempted murder in the late 1980s. The cause of his death was not clear Tuesday, but officials said he had several medical and psychological problems, including a heart condition and schizophrenia.

Daubert, who feared Ruggles would eventually be released, said the death finally brings him peace.

“It’s a huge relief,” he said. “It gives closure to everybody.”

The hospital declined to release any information on the death. The state Psychiatric Security Review Board confirmed the death, but said it would not provide details.

“Our jurisdiction ends with his passing,” said Ellen Lachance, the panel’s executive director.

The shooting occurred on May 8, 1986, when Ruggles, was living in Danbury. Authorities said he cut off Daubert’s police cruiser on Mansfield Avenue and fired shots into the officer’s head, neck and chest when he got out of his car.

Daubert later learned Ruggles had been stalking him for weeks before the shooting. The two had crossed paths two months earlier when Daubert asked him to move from the steps outside the Bethel Post Office, where Ruggles was campaigning in a longshot bid for governor.

Ruggles had a history of delusions and believed his illness was an influence of the devil. While he admitted feeling paranoid at the time of the crime, he did not believe the shooting was due to a mental illness.

Nearly every year for the last decade, Daubert testified against releasing Ruggles from the hospital at hearings of the state Psychiatric Security Review Board, he said.

“Every year we would spend hours on prepping for this hearing and then spend a full day up there arguing,” said Daubert, who retired more than 10 years ago. “We were in a constant battle to try to keep him there.”

The latest request to release Ruggles was denied in August. The hospital had proposed he move to a halfway house, have a curfew, have no contact with the victim and not be allowed in Bethel.

In rejecting the proposal, the six-member board cited Ruggles’ denial he suffered from a psychiatric illness and his disbelief he needed medication to maintain clinical stability.

For the past two years, he underwent treatment services in the community, but he was still required to spend the night at the Middletown hospital.